How to Find a China Manufacturer and Supplier

Finding a manufacturer or supplier in China can be a great choice for businesses looking to reduce their overhead. Chinese suppliers are more affordable than establishing your own manufacturing operations in the country, but they still offer everything you would get if you did. With many goods being made in the country, you’re not the only one taking advantage of what a Chinese supplier or manufacturer can offer a company in the U.S. You don’t even need to be a large business to work with one of these overseas manufacturing plants, either—partnering with a Chinese manufacturer is a good option no matter how large or small your business is.

If you’re looking for a Chinese manufacturer or supplier, here are a few places to start your search.

THE INTERNET

As with most things these days, many people will start by going online and doing a search for a Chinese manufacturing partner. The good news is that this will return thousands of results. The bad news, though, is that it returns thousands of results. You then have to comb through all of those results to find a partner who offers what you need at a price that works for your budget.

You can add additional search terms to help narrow down what you’re looking for. Include key terms related to your industry or what you’re looking for. Also, search for things such as “accredited supplier” or “verified manufacturer” to remove some scam companies. Be sure to watch for companies that are not actually manufacturers. Some are wholesalers or traders who have made themselves appear to be manufacturers. Do some research and read reviews before partnering with a company.

ASK FOR REFERENCES

You can also go online and ask other business owners for references. Social media is a great place do to this. You can ask about suppliers and manufacturers and get an idea of which companies will be a good fit for your needs. There are some groups on sites such as LinkedIn that focus specifically on working with companies in China.

GO TO TRADE SHOWS

Another place to find options for outsourcing to China is trade shows. While it may mean you have to make a trip to China to attend the large Canton Fair trade show in Guangzhou, it might be worth it. You don’t necessarily have to do that, though. The Consumer Electronics Show held annually in Las Vegas, for example, often has many overseas manufacturing companies represented, many of which are located in China. While many of the representatives at international trade shows will speak English, be aware that that may not always be the case at Canton Fair and other shows in China.

USE A CHINA SOURCING AGENT

There are professional China sourcing agents out there who can help you find a great Chinese manufacturer or supplier. The thing to remember, of course, is that these agents will add their own small percentage fee to what you’re paying. It might be worth the cost, however, because these agents do have verified partners in China and have many contacts there.

Overall, if you want to work with a Chinese supplier or manufacturer, they’re out there. You just have to do some work to find the one that fits best with your needs or pay an agent to do that work for you.